The Union government has initiated action against Meta after allegations surfaced that paid advertisements on Instagram were linked to content involving child sexual exploitation. Treating the matter as a serious online safety concern, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has directed the company to immediately remove such advertisements and any related content from the platform.
Officials have also asked Meta to submit a detailed report within seven days explaining how the advertisements were allowed to appear and outlining the measures being taken to ensure similar incidents do not recur.
Government Orders Immediate Removal Of Alleged Illegal Content
According to government sources, MeitY has instructed Instagram to act without delay in disabling advertisements and content that allegedly promoted or provided access to illegal child sexual exploitation material.
The ministry has also directed the platform to strengthen its moderation systems and prevent the circulation of such content across its services.
Questions Raised Over Platform’s Recommendation Systems
The notice reportedly seeks clarification on whether Instagram’s systems or recommendation mechanisms contributed to increasing the visibility of the alleged content.
Officials are understood to have expressed concern that paid advertisements may have been used to redirect users to external websites hosting illegal material, prompting the government to seek details of Meta’s monitoring and content enforcement practices.
The Centre has asked the company to explain the safeguards currently in place and the additional measures it plans to implement to prevent misuse of the platform.
Seven-Day Deadline For Meta’s Reply
The government has given Meta one week to submit its response, including details of its internal review, the steps taken to remove the content and future plans to improve detection and enforcement.
Authorities have indicated that the response will be examined before any further decision is taken.
Legal Consequences Possible
Officials have warned that failure to provide satisfactory information or take prompt corrective measures could lead to action under applicable Indian laws, including the Information Technology Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
The move reflects the government’s increasing focus on ensuring that digital platforms act swiftly against content that endangers children or violates Indian law.
Focus On Online Child Safety
The latest action comes amid broader concerns over the misuse of social media platforms to distribute or promote illegal material involving children. Authorities have emphasised that technology companies are expected to maintain robust safeguards, rapidly remove unlawful content and cooperate fully with regulatory agencies.
